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Gravel.

In the account book the cost of labour and materials appears each year, under their separate headings, but no mention is made of the prices charged for gravel per load. In June, 1828, three contracts were entered into by three persons to cart gravel for three years, and put it by the side of the road, as instructed by the surveyor, at the following prices :

From the "Bald-face Stag" to the 15th milestone, at
IS. 3d. per load.

From the 15th milestone to 17th milestone, at Is. 6d.
per load.

From the 17th milestone to 19th milestone, at 2s. per load.

And to obtain the gravel, and cart it from 19th milestone to Harlow Bush Common, at 4s. per load.

July, 1831.- The contract having expired there were fresh tenders offered by four contractors, and accepted, as follows:

From Woodford to the 14th milestone, Is. per load.

From the 14th milestone to the 17th milestone, at 13.
per load.

From the 17th milestone to the 19th milestone, at
Is. 4d. per load.

And for obtaining the gravel, and carting it from the
19th milestone to Harlow Bush Common, at 3s. per
load.

The contract was for one year.

In 1832 Mr. McAdam was empowered to make the contract, subject to the approval of a Committee appointed for that purpose, but the prices were not named.

April, 1834.-There was a special contract for the supply of gravel to the New Road. The contract was for 5,000 loads of gravel and flints delivered on the New Road, between

T

side, would be amply sufficient, and the clerk was instructed to reply to the valuer to that effect. Nothing, however, is mentioned in the Minutes to show to what waste land the above relates.

The following December "the Chairman called the attention of the meeting to the Resolution (above mentioned) passed at the last meeting, with reference to the width of road to be retained by the Trustees, through that portion of the Trust lying within the parish of North Weald Bassett (the width having at the last meeting been unanimously determined upon and reported to the valuer), and he also referred the clerk to the 118th section, 3rd of George IV., cap. 126, and instructed him, should he consider it advisable, to call the attention of the proper officers to the matter."

No further mention of the matter is made in the Minutes, so it may be concluded that the widths of the road were fixed according to the Resolution.

At the meeting in February, 1858, it having been reported that the objectionable and illegal practice still continued, of hanging gates in various parts of the Trust so as to open outwards on to the turnpike road; it was resolved, "That the surveyor be directed to give notice to parties thereof, where he should deem it necessary, and that in the event of their non-compliance he be empowered forthwith to put the law in force."

At the same meeting the question of repairing and keeping up the footpath throughout the Trust, was discussed at some length, and it was decided that a special meeting should be called for the 15th of March "for the purpose of taking the matter into consideration, with a view to the maintenance of the footpath by, and at the expense of, the Trustees of the road, if the same could be legally done." At the next meeting, March 15th, it is stated, that as regards the footpath, the motion, of which notice had been given, was ordered to stand over, it having been virtually withdrawn in consequence of the practice adopted by turnpike trusts generally throughout England. It was however, at the meeting determined to

empower the Trust surveyor to provide pipes to carry the surface water from the roads into the adjoining ditches.

February 7th, 1859.-There is a Minute-"The question. of a slight deviation in the Loughton road opposite to the station having been discussed, resolved, that the surveyor be instructed to watch the interest of the Trust, and see the work carried out free of expense to the Trust, with the concurrence of Mr. Williams." But nothing more relating to the question is mentioned until the meeting August 19th, 1861, when it is stated, “A long conversation took place respecting a proposed deviation in the turnpike road at or near the Loughton Railway Station, and a suggestion was made that the Trustees should not only go to a considerable outlay, but that the requisite quantity of land should be purchased, &c., when the meeting was of opinion that it could not entertain the question at present."

Two years later, in February, 1863, the subject again occupied the attention of the Trustees, for there is the following entry :

"A certain deviation in the road opposite the Loughton Railway Station; Resolved, that the Trust surveyor be instructed to communicate with the Lord of the Manor's surveyor respecting, and report at the next meeting."

Accordingly, the question of altering the corner of the turnpike road opposite the railway station at Loughton was brought forward at the meeting in June of that year, when a letter was received from the surveyor of the Manor offering the ground required for £30, free of all expense to the Manor. It was then unanimously resolved "that the offer be accepted, and that the necessary steps be immediately taken.”

It appears to have resulted in the Great Eastern Railway purchasing the portion of the old road thrown out of use, for there is the following Minute made September 28th, 1863:

"A letter from Mr. Adams, on behalf of the Great Eastern Railway Company, offering £40 for the disused turnpike road fronting and adjoining to the railway station at Loughton, when it was resolved that the offer of the Company be accepted, and